SAB_UIC_TX

I just ordered some TW pads for my mask. I've heard nothing but raves about the, but my question is are they any more durable than regular pads. I try to change my pads every season to keep the padding fresh and doing it's job. Has anyone had them long enough to get a gage on their durability?

When I was playing if some umpire ever showed me or a teammate up like some of those guys in the original video, I just might not be able to block alllll the balls that are in the dirt. We laugh at these and they are funny, but sadly this is the norm in youth baseball. Poor quality, unprofessional guys who call themselves umpires when all they are is some guy in an umpire uniform who knows nothing of the game and worse yet has no regard for the kid he just rung up and showed up. We don't like when the catcher turns around and talks to us as it shows us up, but the street goes both ways, don't show up the kid/player just to make yourself seen in a game. I have heard a lot of umpires say they won't work below high school because of all the issues with the parents. Are there issues, yes, but seeing a lot of youth ball with a son who plays on a major level team, I also see a lot of umpires who bring things on themselves or start something just to show off they are in charge. You don't want issues in a game work harder, period.

I have found that the higher levels I work it gets harder to see a clear view of the ball leaving the pitchers hands and terminating in the mitt. This is because, the players are bigger, batters crowd the plate looking to take away the inside pitch, and the catchers move a lot and set up late not to give away location. Picking one spot "in the slot" with all this going on can and will cause pitches to "explode" on you or even worse, cause you to miss pitches all together. There was a discussion on the site about what to do when you get squeezed. Most said to go up and back. That's what I use to do when I first started out. Well I found that at this level things move faster and (for me) going up and back cause me to miss things as catchers and batters moved with the pitch. The biggest problem would be that the batters hands would block my vision and the pitch would explode on me. So a few years ago, I started moving more up in the slot and going lower. Low enough that I am below the batters hands. Most batters do not drop their hands when loading up to swing. So going low assures me that I clear the batters hands and can track the pitch from the pitchers hand. Moving up in the slot also gets my head forward so I can see the outside part of the plate. I was at a college camp in October, that is the exact mechanic that was taught when you get squeezed on the inside.

Was it just me or was the PU in the SC v AR game last night looking in at the plate from an angle. I saw this guy the other night and it really looked to me like he had his head angled from left to right looking Ina t the plate. He did a good job just looked odd.

Used the DD tonight, I think this is a cooler rig. We had a good breeze blowing in and I was much cooler. Felt comfortable and secure, it's very low profile. I think it's a keeper.

I think I wore it 4 times this year, even as late in the season as April on a Friday night. Unusually cold for TX that time of year. Even with wearing it those few times, I'm glad I bought it.

The Double D is going on it maiden voyage tonight. Temp is going to be low to mid-90's by game time at 6:00 so we'll see if it's cooler. I got all the fitting issues ironed out and it's pretty comfortable.

Saw this on eBay today. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Umpire-Plate-Coat-/110897324846?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19d1fee32e

I bought the Honigs/Hardwick plate coat this year, that coat is a beast, thick, heavy and is going to last and it's very sharp.

My Douglas has arrived, i see why it's bullet-proof although I'm not totally happy. I should have improved the strap for one, but that's not that big of a deal. What does concern me is that it's very tight around the neck and to get it tightened down enough to keep it from slipping it's nearly impossible to get on and off. Thoughts, suggestions?

I'm three month out from my enhancement, I'm between 20-10 and 20-15. I don't think ther is any way I could have mono vision one eye corrected far othe for near). You can always have the other eye done but you're back in the same schedule and taking up more time.

Ok, I'm convinced, I've been looking for a new chest protector and I think this string of posts seals the deal. Emailing today to pick one up.

Saw this on eBay, looks very different http://www.baseballsavings.com/customer/category/product.jsp?SUBCATEGORY_ID=31337&PROD_ID=17932133&CID=MC&LNK=MC-SH&mr:referralID=5c4213b9-b232-11e1-9e8b-001b2166c62d

One of my son's tournament games ended in a great situation last week, I loved it mostly because of the other team's head coach. R1 and R2, one out, batter pops up to second. BU, a guy I know and umpire with, calls infield fly, now two outs. Ball hits the ground and R1 takes off for second with R2 still standing there, the classic deer in the headlights. R1 gets to second sees R2 still there turns to run back to first and tagged out by F4, three outs, game over.

Congrats on the plate coat and for a killer price. If it is the one bongs sells it a great coat. I wore mine three times this year in TX. As far as earning the coat, you do that with it on your back I my opinion.

Saw the most interesting headgear ever today. We've all seen the hockey mask, the traditional, but how about the skater traditional combo. This guy, who was horrible BTW, had taken a skater helmet and screwed a traditional mask to the front, interesting, looked tacky though. I took pictures that I need to get off of my phone. One field over the BU was wearing a pair of black and white Vans.

I love the stern warning! Used it to perfection a couple weeks ago in a HS varsity game. VT is getting killed, ended up 10 - 0 in 5 innings, 1 hr 10 minutes. Anyway, VC starts up with R3 fly to right and I'm up the line for fair/foul call. F9 catches the ball I glance back to see the kid maybe 3 feet off the bag, which tells me he tagged up. Partner had R2 tag-up so he's not helping. VC starts yelling did i see that, to which i responded "I've got him tagging, coach" He takes a shot after that not biggie, next inning he's chirping about my zone, told me his kids were getting killed and i wasn't helping and something about a game going on that I was missing. He let's the last comment go and I ripped off the mask realed around and took a few steps toward the dugout and yelled "Enough out of you, all of you, one more word and you're done coach". Could have been a library after that. TOP of next inning the first base coach comes up to me on his way by asking where the pitches were missing, I told him they were out. He says HC didn't want to come ask me because he knew he'd get dumped. This dude was just trying to see just how far he could push me. I did a playoff game at the home team last Friday night, the assistant coached commented to me how he liked how I shut that guy down and hard. Too funny.

I've read as much as I can find on this topic; what i've found that would give a HSM any sort of advantage is the forward angel of the cage, meaning that the steeper the angle of the cage the less energy will be transfered from the ball into your head, angle of deflection is important. That being said a traditional style mask that takes a ball square to the face more energy could be transfered straight into your head v. being deflected by a steeper angle cage. Glancing blows to the sides, bottom, or TOP will take the mask off of your head with a significant of energy transfer. I'm not sure you can make a blanket statement that a HSM will provide more protection. Just because there is more material around your head doesn't correlate to more protection in and of itself. The angle of the cage and the padding between your head and the cage are critical. I'm curious, if you're taking head shots, are you working over the TOP of the catcher or the slot? Could you work farther in the slot?

One pair of UA socks on the plate or bases. I've been blessed with some very biomechanically sound feet. No blistering or uncomfort in my NB plate or NB base shoes.

I saw this mentioned in another string so I thought I'd post up in here since LASIK meets all the requirements of equipment; expensive, makes you look better calling a game, not completely necessary, and a real cool thing to get. I've actually had my eyes done twice, first time 11 years ago and noticed over the last year that my night vision was getting a little wonkey. I started having trouble seeing the signs the catcher was giving from B and C at dusk and later. I had them re-done about 6 weeks ago, my vision is at 20/15 right now and it makes all the difference in the world on the field.

So how about this, same as initial situation but, runner hustles to first makes a hard turn and goes 4 or 5 steps toward second like he's taking off, catcher recovers the ball and runner thinks twice about it. F2 throws to first for a tag on R1; is this nothing or is he out as he committed to going to second?

I had a couple good ones in one game last week, these make you scratch your head and wonder; R1 and R2, F1 goes to pick off at first, R1 takes off for second R2 still on the bag, coach is yelling for R2 to stay put, he takes off for third. F3 has the ball as he was chasing R1 to second now throws the ball to third to make a play on R2. I've got perfect angle to make the call. As I'm making the call I see my partner has come up the line at third, I had no idea he was there, no "I've got third", no "I'm at third". No pop fly to the outfield to cause him to take third if R2 tags at third. I make the call and see him making the call as well, lucky for me we agreed. Next inning, run down between thrid and home that started from some craziness at second. F5 runs the kid down from behind right in front of my partner, it was a Jimmy video moment, he immediately points at me and says "what do you have?" I'm coming from the play at second, pitcher and F6 between me and the play and I'm just getting ready to say "I've got this half" when the tag occurs. While he's asking me what I have he's yelling to communicate with me that he couldn't see a thing and has and doesn't know if he tagged him or not. He calls time and comes out to meet me telling me I need to make the call, I replied that I didn't have anything for him as I was screen from all the playing action and not in postion yet to render a decision. Luckliy this was a JV game and nobody got upset over this.

I wear black ball bags with everything, they look fine, match my belt and shoes. Here, Here on the navy shirt. Only time I wear it any more is when my partner doesn't have anything else and I strongly suggest he purchase black.

I'd think if he had a stomach virus he's need a cork not a chest protector.

In a situation like that if I'm the BU I call what I see, "Safe!, he's off the bag!" then signal he's off the bag. If you know you had a limited look call time immediately then go to your partner and not let anyone have a chance to get involved. The call at first is the BU, PU can only tell him what he saw. If I'm PU and I don't know I tell my partner when he asks me if i have anything or any information for him, I give him what I got and that could be nothing. He still has to make that call and own it. By not making a call and coming straight to you he's tried to put the call off on you. This is something to go over in pre-game; how to handle this situation and what you'll do.